1. By: Cornelia Funke
Sydney Relihan
Reading-Roche
Class Period 3
3/27/2012

2. Cornelia Funke was born in Germany in 1958. She loved to read even at a
young age. She started her career as a book illustrator but soon became the author of
her own books. She wanted to write books that would not only appeal to those who
loved to read, but also to inspire those who did not to read. Some of her most famous
books are Dragon Rider, Inkheart, and Thief Lord. Cornelia now lives with her family
in Los Angeles California, continuing to write children’s fantasy novels.
http://www.corneliafunkefans.com/en

3. The Thief Lord was about two young brothers, Prosper and Bo, who ran away from their
cruel aunt and escaped to Venice, Italy. They encountered new friends, including Hornet, Riccio,
Mosca, and the mysterious Thief Lord, who helped the brothers adapt to life on the streets of
Venice. When the Thief Lord was asked to steal a wooden wing once belonging to a magical
merry-go-round, the group of friends worked together to save their movie theatre hideout and
steal the wing for their client. Through the help of their new friends, Detective Victor Genz, and
Ida Spavento, Prosper and Bo discovered the true identity of the Thief Lord, fixed the merry-go-
round, and found a new family. What happened to the merry-go-round? Who was the Thief
Lord? Read this novel to discover these answers and many more.

4. Prosper – Prosper was a twelve year old boy with dark hair. He was very protective of his younger brother
Bo. He went with the Thief Lord to give the wooden carousel wing to the Conte and decided to live with Ida
Spavento with Hornet and Bo.
Bo – Bo was a five year old boy with very blond hair. He depended on and appreciated his brother very
much even though he did not seem to sometimes.
Thief Lord/Scipio Massimo – The Thief Lord was a boy who’s real name is Scipio. Scipio lied to his friends
by not telling them who he really was. His true identity was discovered by Victor and Scipio admitted he
stole items for them from his house. With Prosper’s help, Scipio rode the magical carousel and turned into an
adult.
Ida Spavento- Ida Spavento was a lady who lived alone in a fancy house. She owned the wooden wing and
when she caught the children trying to steal it, she decided to help them.
Detective Victor Getz – Victor was a detective who was asked to search for Prosper and Bo in Venice. He
found the brothers, but became their friend and helped the children find out the true identity of Scipio and
protected them from Prosper and Bo’s aunt.
Hornet – Hornet was a thin, brown haired girl who wore her hair in a long, thin braid down her back. She
helped Prosper and Bo to adapt to life in the streets of Venice. She was like a big sister to Bo, helping him and
showing him how to behave.

5. INTRODUCTION
Victor was asked by Prosper and Bo’s Aunt to look for the boys.
CLIMAXfound Prosper and Bo in Venice and took them to meet Mosca, Riccio, and Scipio in the Star-Palace.
Hornet
Scipio and the other children both decided to steal the wing. Ida Spavento caught them and decided to help them
figure out why the Conte wanted the wing. Scipio and Prosper followed the Conte to his island home and Scipio rode a
RISING ACTION
magical merry-go-round ran aturned into an adult. BarbarossaLord turned into a kid but client. the merry-go-round.
Barbarossa, a man who and shop in Venice, asked the Thief also to steal an item for a broke
Scipio decided to take the job offered by Barbarossa.
FALLING ACTION with his client, the mysterious Conte, who told him to steal a wooden wing from Ida Spavento’s
The Thief Lord met
Barbarossa returned with Scipio and Prosper lived with Ida.
house.
Riccio and Mosca went unknowingly told him where he lived Prosper, friends.
Bo talked to Victor and to live alone in a warehouse while Bo, with his and Hornet lived with Ida.
Victor visited Dottore Massimo, a rich man who owned the old movie theatre the children were living in, and found
CONCLUSION
out that Scipio was his son.
Ida tricked Prosper and Bo’s aunt into coming and locked up bytheir aunt took the little Barbarossa with her.
Victor went to the Star-Palace and was caught to her house and the children.
Scipio talked without the truth about Scipio and they decided a detective. wing themselves.
The group found Victor and decided to work with Victor as to steal the

6. Imploringly- (v.) beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something: Riccio held out his hands
imploringly. Page 243
Ipecac- (n.) Traditional Brazilian plant used to induce vomiting in animals as well as humans: “Go and
give them some ipecac,” Renzo said to Morosina without taking his eyes off the redbeard. Page 283
Louse- (n.) a small wingless parasitic insect that lives on the skin of mammals and birds: “I’m not one
of your silly little friends, you louse.“ Page 311
Deliberation- (n.) long and careful consideration or discussion: Then Mosca said with a great deal of
deliberation, “Boy Riccio, that was a real speech!” page 316
Intuition- (n.) the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious
reasoning: “It was a sort of intuition.” page 342

7. Hornet: Chloe Grace Moretz
Scipio Massimo: Nathan Gamble Getz: Matt Damon
Detective Victor
Prosper: Asa Butterfield
Bo: Oscar Steer
Ida Spavento: Julie Bowen

8. I think the music A Smile Goes a Long Long Way, from the album Carousel Memories would
be perfect for the part in the story where Scipio rides the magical merry-go –round and
turns into and adult. The song sounds exactly like the music you would hear on a
carousel.
carousel song

9. Final Rating: 4 ½ stars
I would rate The Thief Lord 4 ½ stars out of 5 stars because it had an
exciting plot, great characters, and many creative ideas. The only thing I did
not like about the novel was since it took place in Italy where the speak Italian,
there were some Italian phrases that appeared occasionally and I hand no clue
what they meant. It made it sometimes hard to understand parts of
conversations. One part of the book that I especially liked was that it kept me
guessing what would happen next and I was sometimes surprised. Overall I
believe The Thief Lord was an outstanding book.